Vermont, New Hampshire warn of gasoline smell in some water bottles

Published 8:36 pm, Monday, February 25, 2013

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- The Vermont and New Hampshire health departments are warning people to check for gasoline smells in some 3- and 5-gallon water jugs.

The warning is being issued after reports from Massachusetts and other states found that plastic water bottles of those sizes may have become contaminated by being used to store fuel and then recycled back to drinking water bottles after Superstorm Sandy.

Only 3-gallon or 5-gallon water containers are affected -- those that sit atop a water cooler.

Tests in Massachusetts found chemical traces in a Poland Spring bottle, although it's possible bottles from other suppliers are affected as well.